Chapter 351 Breaching The Defenses (1/2)

Arran was surprised at how easy the Rangers' clothes and weapons made it for him and the captain to roauards even before leaving the dungeons, but despite their ill-fitted clothes and unfauards so much as spoke a word

”They wouldn't dare question Rangers,” the captain explained ”But even if they would, the thought of outsiders escaping and robbing Rangers would never occur to them”

This, Arran understood easily In the Shadowfla a Master, ap between coers in the Ier

It was a weakness for both sides, and a ht was to Arran, it was a ht now, there were s that needed his attention

Escaping the dungeons proved no uards theybefore they had left the dungeons' craed into the keep proper

When they arrived, the keep's hallways had been abuzz with people, soldiers and Rangers both But now, the wide corridors were all but abandoned, with only a few lone soldiers and guards reated the keep's ees ”It's like Kadun sent everyone who could carry a weapon to the h to make no difference,” the captain replied ”He had no other choice Just suffering an attack eaken hi the stock”

”Worse than risking his entire army?” Arran asked

”Much worse,” the captain said ”An arh time, but the stain of dishonor isn't erased so easily But he won't lose his are blows only until a winner is decided, and the losing side will be allowed to flee”

”Still,” Arran said, ”it see If I were in Kadun's place, I'd have my troops retreat into the city, and only strike when Rannoc's forces were unprepared”

The captain save a shake of his head ”Effective as that would be, it would make Kadun look weak The Lords' conflicts aren't real wars — they're fought for honor as much as they are for victory”

”That sounds like ht battles as if they were gaaether for countless centuries They allow the Lords to challenge each other without wasting too many Darian lives, and provide their troops with experience they cannot gain through ”

Much to his annoyance, Arran had no answer to this Although there was so about the idea of battle without conviction that see exactly what it was that bothered him

And either way, the system seemed to have worked for the Darians, at least so far

”Although I must admit,” the captain continued, ”that presently, the Darians' customs pose a bit of a problem for our plans”

The captain sounded unconcerned, but Arran's expression instantly turned ugly as his eyes shot toward his co, he had little doubt that the neould be very bad indeed

”How bad is it?” he asked, frustration rising within his wouldn't be as simple as he'd hoped

”I'll explain in a moment,” the captain said ”Let's leave the keep, first”

They were only a few dozen paces froh the rest of the keep was uards

Yet although the guards looked at them curiously as they passed, none of the soht better of it when he saw Arran's irritated expression

Then, just like that, they were back on the city's streets

Arran saw that it was late in the evening, at least several hours after sundown And although there were some people on the streets despite the late hour, Arran was relieved to see that they were feithto be outsiders rather than Darians

”As I was saying,” the captain continued once they were out of earshot of the guards, ”the Darians' custo we can't deal with, mind you, but an obstacle nonetheless”

Not at all reassured, Arran cast a dark look at his companion ”That bad, is it?”

Kaleesh hesitated briefly before speaking ”It's not good,” he finally admitted ”Like Kadun, Rannoc holds to the Imperium's customs And that ht”

At this, Arran's expression darkened further ”So we'll need to defend the gate after we open it? How long?”

”Half an hour,” Kaleesh replied ”A quarter-hour if we're lucky and Rannoc hurries Which I doubt he will”

Arran cursed loudly, the sound of his voice sharp enough to cause several of the people on the street to hurry away — they had no desire to be anywhere near an angry Ranger